HOBOKEN – Paul Gallay, the man tasked with overseeing the ongoing cleanup, health and development of the Hudson River, will be the keynote speaker at the Fund for a Better Waterfront’s annual fundraising gala on Nov. 21, the group announced this week. The theme of this year’s event is “Take Me to the River.”

“The Hudson Riverkeeper has a remarkable story to tell going after polluters of the Hudson River and sparking a movement to clean up rivers across the nation,” the group said in a statement. “The story echoes a similar grassroots effort in Hoboken to preserve its waterfront for the public’s use for generations to come, led by the advocacy efforts of the Fund for a Better Waterfront.”

For nearly half a century, the office of the Hudson Riverkeeper has advocated for clean water initiatives up and down the river which have resulted in the establishment of globally recognized standards for waterway and watershed protection.

The Fund for a Better Waterfront grew out of a successful movement by Hoboken residents in 1990 to stop a deal between the city and the Port Authority that would have resulted in the construction of a massive development on Pier A, which instead became Pier A Park. Since then, the group has served as a watchdog in the ongoing efforts to develop Hoboken’s waterfront, with the goal of having it be fully available for public use.

The gala will take place at 7 p.m. at the Hoboken Elks Club, located at 1005 Washington Street. Artisanal Latin American treats will be provided by Zafra Kitchens and its award-winning chef Maricel Presilla. There will be an open bar and a jazz trio, the Riverview Band. Dessert will be provided by Choc-O-Pain French Bakery & Cafe. Auction and raffle items will be announced soon.

Tickets for the event are on sale for $75 and can be purchased online at http://betterwaterfront.org/take-me-to-the-river/ . For more information, contact Executive Director Ron Hine at 201-659-8965 or ron@betterwaterfront.org.